Atletico Madrid Vs Barcelona
2nd Leg UCL QF
Estadio Vicente Calderón
Referee: Hopefully Overbo but I have no idea.


Team News

Striker Diego Costa is a doubt for Atletico Madrid ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash with Barcelona. Winger Arda Turan could also miss out because of a groin strain.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has been included in the squad, despite still struggling with injury. The veteran defender has struggled for much of the season with niggling problems. Gerard Pique (hip) is out while goalkeeper Victor Valdes (knee) is sidelined until the end of the season.

Probable Barcelona Team

-----------------------------------Pinto------------------------------------

Alves----------------Bartra------------------Mascherano--------------Alba

----------------Xavi------------Busquets-------Iniesta--------------------

Messi----------------------------Cesc---------------------------Neymar


Probable Atletico Madrid Team

-----------------------------------Courtois------------------------------

Juan Fran--------------Miranda---------------Godin-------------Felipe Luis

-----Koke------------Gabi-----------Suarez------Tiago-------------------

-----------------------------Diego---------------------------------------

-------------------------------------Villa--------------------------------

Match Facts(fourfourtwo)

• Barcelona have not lost a match in the Champions League quarter finals since April 2003, winning eight and drawing seven of their games at this stage since.
  
• Barcelona have won just two of their previous seven Champions League matches against fellow Spanish sides (W2 D3 L2).
  
• Atlético have conceded only five goals in their nine Champions League games this season; no side in the competition have conceded fewer.
  
• Overall in CL history, Barcelona have seen 27 red cards given to opponents; nine more than any other side in the competition.
  
• Atlético Madrid have played the most games in Champions League history (excl. qualifiers) without having been given a red card (31).
  
• Atlético Madrid have been given the most yellow cards in the Champions League this season (22).
  
• Barcelona have seen their opponent reduced to 10 men in four of their last eight Champions League matches.
  
• Lionel Messi has scored 67 goals in 85 Champions League appearances (excl. quals) – the only player to have scored more CL goals in Raul (71 in 142 apps).
  
• Messi has scored 19 goals in his last 20 Champions League appearances away from the Camp Nou.
  
• Atlético Madrid have won all four of their Champions League games at home this season netting 13 goals and conceding only two.
  
• No side has scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Champions League games than Atlético Madrid this season (5).
  
• No side has scored more goals from set-pieces than Atlético Madrid this season (9).
  
• Neymar has scored or assisted six of Barcelona’s last 10 Champions League goals (four goals, two assists).
  

Simeone: “Barca will play the same as always, they will look to manage the game through possession of the ball. They are specialists in scoring goals. Not so long ago they scored four times in a place just near here.”

Fußball wrote:Simeone: “Barca will play the same as always, they will look to manage the game through possession of the ball. They are specialists in scoring goals. Not so long ago they scored four times in a place just near here.”

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

At least the offense is a little more balanced than previously. Still...Cesc playing

Barcelona looked scary when Cesc came off for Alexis.

Courtois to get sent off. Messi to score two penalties. Barca win 2-1.

Will be a really close game. 1-1 in normal time and Barca just about sneak it extra time or pens.

Diego Costa: Has the best shot accuracy (68.4%) of the 95 players to attempt 10+ shots in the CL this season

do you want to post that in Atletico thread, Mr. Robot

Diego Costa: Has the best shot accuracy (68.4%) of the 95 players to attempt 10+ shots in the CL this season

I'm sure this thread said Atletico when I clicked on it to post that stat. Must have changed.

Barca will go through.

Would love if it this "Worst Barca in a decade according to Mourinho" knocked Chelsea out in Semis.

whats that now a new Atletico obsession

Spoiler:

atleti to get a red card and barca to go through messi hattrick 2 penelties

1-1 in normal time, Messi to score a winner in Extra Time, Barcelona to go through   

Barca take it 3-0 in regular time, Messi with two goals   

0:0

penalssi to shine .

If Altéti can score first

@Yohan

Please try to find the right thread for your stats next time. The Diego Costa post is already the second one I had to move to the proper thread...

Starting 11:

Courtois; Juanfran, Godín, Miranda, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Gabi; Koke, Villa, Raúl García; Adrián.

Pinto - Alves Bartra Mascherano Alba - Xavi Busquets Iniesta - Messi Cesc Neymar

Why Adrìan and not Diego?

Cesc starting

jay07 wrote:Why Adrìan and not Diego?

Pace on the counter.

Natalie Portman wrote:Cesc starting

Better than in midfield tbf.

At least Neymar and Iniesta are in their natural positions.

I understand the thought process behind it.... i.e. Get Messi away from the middle where he will be marked by multiple players while keeping Neymar and Iniesta in their natural positions.

Although like Free Cat in the Barca section said, Sanchez would have probably been a better 9 than Cesc.

In any case though, they have no excuses especially with Atleti's most potent attacking players out.

Cesc false 9